The Privilege of Playing at Rawhide

By Ellie Gilbert and Brooke Hacker

Redwood varsity baseball is one of few teams who are privileged enough to be able to play on the Rawhide field for some of their home games. 

Coach Hydash says, “Any team that reaches out to the Rawhide staff is typically allowed to play there when the schedule permits. Here at Redwood, we have had a very positive experience with Rawhide staff and it has generally worked out that we play there a few times a year.”

There is always a packed crowd when Redwood plays another high school in Visalia at Rawhide. Ty Potts ‘23 says, “It’s pretty cool to get to play on that field especially against a school in Visalia such as El Diamante or Mt. Whitney because a ton of people come out to watch and it’s always an intense game.”

The team is very appreciative for the opportunity to be able to play at Rawhide more often than other schools. Hydash says, “The field itself is beautiful and well-maintained. The players look forward to playing there because it’s such a nice facility.”

Potts says, “I definitely prefer to play at Rawhide as opposed to our typical home field. A few reasons being the better playing surface with nicer grass and dirt, but also having good lights and a ton of seating is a big change from our normal field.” 

Mikey Ramirez ‘22 says, “The Rawhide field is a privilege to play on and will always be great.” This is a common thought amongst some of the other players on the team. 

Hydash and Potts both mention that playing on the Rawhide field isn’t as much of an advantage, but they are more used to it than other teams who have never played there before. The other team can sometimes be overwhelmed by the field. 

Hydash says, “We appreciate the Redwood administration for making it possible for us to play there.”

Tags: brooke hacker, ellie gilbert, rawhide stadium, redwood baseball, redwood high school